Ex-mayor admits to using $90K in state money for personal salary hikes

Gov.-elect Phil Murphy announced Friday he's nominating the superintendent of Asbury Park schools to be New Jersey's next education commissioner -- and tasked him with helping "revolutionize learning" in the state.

Murphy said Lamont Repollet -- who has run the Monmouth County city's school system since 2014 -- will help him with some of his biggest goals for education: eliminating controversial PARCC testing and improving the state's relationship with teachers after eight years of Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

Child - Opportunity - Murphy - Democrat - Office

"Not every child has the same educational opportunity," Murphy, a Democrat who takes office Tuesday, said during a news conference at Barack Obama Elementary School in Asbury Park. "If we are to move ahead, we must close these gaps. If we are to move ahead, we need new leadership."

Gov.-elect Phil Murphy sat down with NJ Advance Media as he prepares to take over for outgoing Gov. Chris Christie. He talked politics, policy, and his famous election night leap.

Cabinet - Nominees - Repollet - State - Senate

As with most Cabinet nominees, Repollet -- pronounced "Rep-o-let" -- will need to be confirmed by the Democratic-controlled state Senate.

By picking Repollet, who is black, Murphy also continues his vow to make his Cabinet reflective of New Jersey's diversity.

Murphy - Christie - Education - Policies - President

Murphy campaigned on departing from several of Christie's education policies and tapped the president of the New Jersey Education Association -- the state's largest teachers union and a frequent Christie foe -- as the co-chair of his transition committee on educational issues.

In selecting Repollet, Murphy chose the leader of a school district Christie often held up as a prime example of wasteful spending and what he called the state's failed investment in urban districts.

Christie - Overhaul - State - School - Funding

When Christie proposed a drastic overhaul of the state's school funding system in 2016, he pointed to Asbury Park, which was spending about $33,000 per student -- more than any other traditional school...